Rotary reciprocating combustion engine



Patented `l'uly 3G, 1929-.

UNITED STAT-ES PATENT. OFFICE;

WILLIAM HARPER, JR., OF N EW BLOOMFIELDyPENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR., BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOAMERICAN GAS TURBINE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK,` N. Y.,

.A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ROTARY RECIPROCATING- COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application tiled December 1, 1920, Serial No. 427,475. Renewed April 24F, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in combustion engines of the rotary reciprocatingrtype, and has for its objects to provide a balanced niulticylinder rotary engine ot fairv ly-high speed .w'l1icl1. will be suitable for use as a small portable motor for boats, household machinery, etc., and also in larger size for detached lighting plants; pumps7 etc.,

` and generally in situations where electric motors are commonly used today. An advantage of electric motors is that they are balanced and hence do not require heavy foundations to prevent shaking to pieces and can be operated at economical high Speed. practically no lighting installations driven by balanced high speed combustion engines, as the detached lighting installations now on the market usually have aslow speed engine which requires a heavy foundation and even then must be at a distance from the house, owing to noise and vibration, together with a,heavy, specially designed slow speed generator. lVith the engine of this invention, it is possible to eliminate the expense of heavy foundations and also to use a much more economical and lighter form of high speed generator. thereby effect-ing a considerable saving in cost of installation. Her-etofor'e, as far as I am aware, rotary reciprocating engines have had a limited use in aviation, wherein economy of fuel and oil has not been considered but for the purposes above specified these considerations are material.

A further object of the invention is to pr0- vide a cross firing arrangement whereby electric or other ignition is only required in starting, the engine being so constructed that after once being started the 'flame from one cylinder during the working stroke will be admitted to the next cylinder to fire, thus dispensing with the lnecessity of a magneto. or other source of current for continuous sparlcignition. A .l

A still' further object of the invention is to provide a low speed rotary valve mecha-` theother, tlie intermediate portion of the ro-- tary valve carrying the cross ignition passage and the valve also carrying in the pre- At the present time there are Further objects of the invention includemeans for varying the timing and the general arrangement and construction of parts whereby unusual compactness and lightness are obtained, with simplicity of construction.

The engine comprises generally a frame or casing, resembling that of an electric motor on which is journaled a hollOWsha-ft to which is keyed the lradial cylinder' casting, the cylinlder heads being adjacent the "shaft and havmg ports registering with ports in the shaft,

-and within the shaft being a differentially driven inlet and exhaust valvemechanism, the. cross tiring connections, the starting igmtion system and also the Water connections.

The pistons reciprocate in the c 1inders,.the

outer 4ends 'of which areopen, y means of fixed ecceutrics carried by the frame, carry- Y ing apeculiai; form of yoke connecting rod,.

the entire engine` acting on the four cycle principle and preferably having an odd number of cylinders, which enables the valve to be driven slower than the shaft and to properly control the cylinders with a less number pf ports. flhe five lcylinder en ine herein 'illustrated 1s operated by' a va ve having three inlet andthree'exhaust ports and three cross firing ports, 'means being provided for shifting the valve relatively tothe cylinder ports to changethe timing. A

In the accompanying drawings, 4 Figure 1,' engine Figure 2 is a sectional elevationon the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail of the shifting 'mechanism for varying the valve timing; Figures'fi and 5 are de- `tail sections-showing arrangements of the s an elevation in sectionof A the 4valve at' the exhaust end to enable it to pass, i i

the exhaust gases and incoming-'and outgoing cooling passages; Figures 6 and 6l are details of the connecting yokes; Figure 7 is a development of a valve showing the `port arrangements; vFigure 8 is a development of the shaft showing .the cylinder ports and water inlets; Figuresl 9 and 10 are further details ofthe valve timing shift; Figures 11 and 12 are details showing the cross firing passage construction; Figure 13 is an end elevation ofthe supply-passage in the'valve; Figure 14 is a view of a modilication showing a form of high tension ignition; Figures 15 4and v16 are details of the connection on the 'ignition rodin Fig. 14; Fi ure 17 shows a modification of the ignition evice of F1gure 14'providedwith means f .ordispersing the spark, and Figure 18 shows a further moditied form of spontaneous combustion ignition.

1 represents the b ase ofthe motor which I preferably made in two' alves as shown, and

secured together by bolts through holes 2. Each frame half. is provided with vertical walls 3 between whichare the diverging cyl- V inders 4 which are-keyedona 'shaft 5 which shaft is journaled in theiframe on bearings 6, so that the shaft and cylinders rotate as a unit. Each 'cylinder is provided with 'a combustion space and gas -port 7 at the inner end .registering with shat port 8 and reciprocatino" radially. in eachcylinder are pistons 9 having at their outer ends studs 10 on which are vyokesll vhaving T shaped feet 12 which bear on stationary divided eccentric rings. 13 .carried by the frame, so that each piston makes a complete reciprocation during 180 revolutionof the cylinders. As shown in the drawings', the 4cylinders are slotted. as at 14 tov allowthe studs 10 to slide therein, but the elongated feet 12 insure -ample bearing space on the rings13 4bearing on eccentric 18, the cylinder unit thus being driven'hy the yokes 11 i The diverging cylinders of the rotor.` are cast in the form of alpnitary castingresembling a wheel Without a rim, the 'casting being cored toprovide the water jacket 15 with plugs 16 as shown in Figure 2. The only fin lshing operations necessary besides balancing the 'casting and boring the cylinders is to bore the center to receive the shaft and the shaft key Way, together withthe tapping for the` '360 of' revolution. The .gas inlet is by pipe '25 at the left end into the v.passage 26 and" thence by undercut opening 27 to the shaft port 8 and then to the cylinderport 7, While i Y the exhaust from the cylinder is .through i cylinder port 7, shaftport 8, opening 29 to exhaust space 30 in the center of the' valve thence around T'head31 through passages 32 l Y i into the exhaust gas passage33 surrounding l the Water inlet' 34, the-gas discharging `through divided-passages 35 into the gas exfhaust manifold 36 shown behind' the water inlet tube 34 and the Wateroutlet tube 37 in Figure 1.- Water comes infatpipe 38 through pipe 34 thence to T head .passage 39 in T head 31 thence through shaft water inletports 40 into the jacket 15, 'the cold Water being 'cenf trifugally thrown outward and the hot water iiowlng inwardly from the jacket throughl shaft ports 41 to the Watercutlet passage 42 within the shaft, thence bypassage 37 to the water outlet 43'., At `40 in Figure 1 is shown how both ports 40-41 in the shaft are diagonall'y undercutso that the water can pass as described.4 v A By rotating thevalve differentially relatively to the cylinder ports, lwhich in the instant case is with the shaft ports-fas well, two outstanding; advantages are secured. One is that a 'lessnumber of valve portsis required I than the 'number of cylinder-ait beingyobserved that the valve'carries three inlet and three exhaust ports for 'tive.cyl'inders, and anotheradvantage is that the wear. of the valve is reducedto a minimum because there '.-is only a slight relative movement between thevalve and the shaft Moreover the re duction of the. number of ports in the valve gives ample room for the necessary valve lap,

and also furnishes room without cuttingdown the valve lap, for the three cross tiring ports. Consequently a t1ve 'cylinder engine is operatedfby a Valve with three inlet and three also 'be cross vfired .by v

exhaust ports andcan three cross tiring ports.

The shaft carries a gear 48 keyed thereto which drives a gear 49 mounted on a stud()V` carried by a swinging arm 51 (seeFigure gear 49 driving .a gear 52 which drives gear 53 on thevalve sleeve 20, the gearlng being the speed of rotation of the'shaft' and cylinders. Thearm 51 carries a'segment 54 which i' vvsuch that the valve is driven l/-,th slower' than meshes Withthe gear. 55 on shaft156with 'setv nut and handle 57 so that the arm'51 can beangularly swung` and held in adjusted' position to angularly-shift the valve-relatively to thev shaft to adjust the timing since as shown the gears 48 and 50 are of 4different size.- This engine-preferably. yemploys'a rel- .atively high compression, with 'relatively short piston stroke and consequently will de- 5- velop a high speed Aif the exhaust valves open at about 120 as will be seen to be the casein Figure 7.. A l 60 represents the'starting shaft willich also carries a belt pulley 61 by which power may i be suppli'edto'or taken' from the engine, the 430 shaft 60 having bearings as shown and carrying gear 62 which meshes with gear 48, and

at the other end of the motor is another pul-4 ley 63 0n shaft 64 carrying gearing 65 which meshes with gear 66 on the end of shaft 5,

. The starting ignition may be by flame from hot wire, high tension spark, orlow tension make vand break, or from a catalyst, and I. show several of these specially adapted to the peculiar conditions of this invention. At one end of the chamber 68 is a plug 69 carrying an adjustable firing contact 70, and the otherr end ot' the chamber is closed by a tube 7l threaded into another tube 72 within lthe gas F inlet passages a6. fWithin the tube 71 is a tube 73 insulated from tube 71, and Within firing pin 74. and the end of screw 70 to quickly separate them to produce a sparkin chamber 68, owing to the rotation and reciprocationo the pin 78 and pin 74, pin 78 being engaged with the valve through hole (see also Fig. 13) 84 therein so as to be rotated thereby. The cam 76 is loose on rod 74 and is held pressed against pin 78 by spring 77,- 79 being a bushing inwliich therod 74-can reciprocate. 81 isa segment having teeth with which latch 82 engages for timing the spark, and '8B is a` spring mounted on arin 84, which snaps ,the firing pin 7 4 back to make the spark. The

conductors to binding post 97 carrying the function of the spring 83 is to sn-ap the rod 74 back to open the contact points to make the spark. v

Alternately, masses of combustible gases and exploded gases enter chamber 68 because of the suction,` compression, and working strokes,and. thus it may be said that a scav.

enging action is secured forchamber 08. To avoid the quenching effect of ports 24 being too Small, or loss of compression if these are too large, a hole 24 f theproper size is made and is then milled out on top at opposite sides of the hole as in Figures 7 and 11 so that the fla-nie can fan out into and through shaft port 8 and cylinder portV 7. The cross firing passa e is preferably through the valve 'where itis entirely Walled in bythe valve. Because the-valve isf bet-Ween the cylinders and concentric with the cylinder movement, the pas-l sage throughthe valve is short. Theerossre passage in the valve is heated substantially continuously dueto the supply of hot 'gases during the ders, regardless o whether or not the crossfire passage simultaneously connects the firing and fired cylinders.

Another feature of novelty in the construction here described resides in the yokes 11 shown in Figures 6 and 6 which are provided power stroke ofthe cylinwith a broad wearing surface and are notched on oppositesides as shown so that the end of one slightly overlaps the end of the next one, thus allowing practically, the entire surface of the eccentric ring to be utilized for bearing surface, thereby reducing wear and preventing canting or distortion due to the varying angles at different piston positions. A novel method of making these yokcs is to make up a yoke castingwith one yoke less attached to lthe ring than the engine willrequire, then sawing ,the ring into segments and offsetting the ends'to overlap and slide together when placed in the T slot. V-ith five yokes, each retainingsegment can bear in the T slot for more than l'of the periphery of the T slot thereby eliminating canting.

- In Figure 14 a form of high tension ignition is shown whereinthe tube 72 is straight and abuts against a block '86 carried by tube -87 threaded-into the valve 21 and closing the chamber 68-at-one end. Mounted in the block 86 i s insulation such' as wrapped mica 8S, carrying the electrode 89, the current umping tofan electrode 90 in plug 91 forming the other end of the ignition chamber 68, wtlr the screw 90 -adjustable for length ot gap. The electrode 89 is cari'ied by a plug 92 to which is 'secured by a clip 93, a rod 94 exf tending outwardly into the charge passage 25 and-engaging in a conical spring pressed block 9 6. This sparkplug and all the mechaiiism vassociated therewith must turn with the valve so that the cone plug 96 forms a lbearing on which the rod 94 turns. From the plug 96 the current goes out through suitable conductor 98from the magneto. The distributor for the magneto will have a commutator with contact segments which will be sospaced as to complete the circuit at the proper times,

or else will be'driven at such speed with a single segment as to dothis. In the present case,

the ignitionsparks will be produced at about l the same times that the cross 4firing ignition occurs, .or the make and break, giving one spark in approximately 'each 120 of valve revolution.

The rod 94 is connected to the plug 92 by means of a -clip 93 which engages-in the groove of rod 94 as shown in Figures.' 15 and 16. A preferable form of high tension ig- -nition .electrodes is shown in Figurel V17,

wherein the rod 89 is counter bored as shown at 99, to forma recess, and the plug 100 car- 'ries a chamber 101 which is closed by a conic al cover 102 having a small hole 103 in the With the counter lbore 99m he variations in pressure 1n endl registeri the rod 89.

the chamber 68 vcause gas to be blown in and outcf chamber 101, the effect of this blast of gas through the hole 103 being to'spread-or fan out the are laterally', thus giving a much quicker and better body of gas to be ignited,

because'of the spreading' out of the fla-me.

izo

l The gas. pulsating in and out of (Ishambe/rv l `into the ignition chamber 101 and counter bore 99 causes the recesses to clear themselves.

In Figure 18 a spontaneous .combustion ignition 'element operating by catalytic ac4 tion is shown wherein 'chamberv 68 is closed by plugs 105, 106, the ,latter havinga small the tube 110 being open at both ends as f with very outer tube. 109 through the vactive materiali 'i .vided with trifugal forces can is'filled with. actiye catalytic material 112 which maybe spongeplatinuin impregnated finely' divided .platinum together with an oxidizing agent such as thorium lor cerium or oxid'tliereof tending to attract or occlude oxygen from. the air. The-gas is forced .through the small .hole 111 in the into the tube 110, causing combustion to start and be accelerated by the oxides p r'es` entf, the temperature gradually working up to that of ignition through cellular combustion in the active material: 112. The tube 109 -thus becomes hot. .enough to ignite the gas. A small Aleakage is desiredtlirough the tube 107 so that fresh gas will continually L be driven into the active material. Owing to the very Vsmall mass of the tube 109 it cannot radiate heat very fast and will stay hot. If one cylinder misses tire, this plug will retain sufficient 'heat to ignite the next cylinder. The provisions for oiling are largely by centrifugal`forces, 'as this type of engine lends' itself especially thereto.. As seen in Figure 1 the end of the valve tube i's-proan oil well 115, with holes in which the oil will @be forced to lubricate the bearing between the valve and the shaft, the outer Yend of the valve having .spiral oil grooves as .shown in Fi ure 1. .The oil will be suppliedto this we l by condensation from-the space 116 entering well 115 through thespace 'between gear 53 and member 54 and openings 26 in the valve, (see Fig. 14). The cylinders can, of course, revolve in oil and the shaft bearings W'here not directly supplied by the cen'- be oiled in the ordinary the valve .thrpugli manner.

This invention is not tobe restricted to the live cylinders and three port valveliere# in shown, 4as other numbers of cylinders lmay be used with proper differentiation between angular cylinder velocity and angular valve lengthen the ,gas travel.

velocity. Thus a 7 cylinder engine can be operated with a four port valve lif driven at 1/8 less angular velocity than thecylinders,

` but increase in the number of cylinders tends to increase the size and diameter, tending to Among the advantagesof this invention 6 8,- The plate 108'- may be mentioned the vprovision of a come .shaft results.' Inasmuch as a` valve of this type is subject to considerable temperature pact symmetrically arranged rotary" recip` rocating combustion engine so formed as to'- heretofore been possible differences, reduction in Wear is of substantial value. `Afurther advantage resides 'in fthe provision of. means. for adjusting the angularA relationship .between the .valve and cylinders, which adjusting means may becontrolled while the engine is running or .while stationary. l. Yet a further advantage resides in the'provision of means for firing the compressed charge in one cylinder from that in another, While still possessing the aforementioned advantages that accrue to engines having rotary valves.

What I claim is:

1. In a coinbustionengine having a controlled exhaust, a rotor including diverging cylinders each bustion space at the inner end, a piston in' cach cylinder,`1ncans. for reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation, a rotary valve concentric with the cylinder movement. for controlling the admission of gas to the cylinders, differential means for driving said vvalve in timed relation 'tothe cylinders and the same direction, and means f or varying the timing of said valve.

2.In a combustion-engine having a con' i 4trolled exhaust, a rotor including diverging cylinders having a gas port and combustion space at the inner adjacent ends, a piston in each cylinder, meansfor reciprocating the 'pistons during cylinder rotation, a valve'bef tween said cylinders andfconcentric with their movement for controlling admission of gases to said cylinders, means for driving said valve in timed relation .to said cylinders,

and means forvaryingthetiming ofsaid valve during rotationi.

3. Ina combustion engine'fhaviiiga' c ontrolled exhaust, a .r otor including diverging gas .port andcombustion cylinders having a having a gas port and coinspace :it-the inner adjacent ends, a 'pistoninfj leach cylinder,.mcans Vfor reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation, a valve between said Icylinders for controlling admis- .sion of gases to tating said cylinders, and means for varying the timing .of said valve including a gear concentric with said valve, a driving gear engaging'said first gear,and means for moving the second gear about the first while in mesh -therewith to said cylinders, means for rorotate the valve .relatively to said cylinders.

' 4. In a combustion engine having a convalve in timed relation to said trolled exhaust, a rotor including diverging A tating cylinders, pistons therein, driving concylinders each having a gas port andA coinbustion' space at the inner end, a piston in each cylinder, means for reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation, a valve concentric with the cylinder movement for controlling the admission of gas to thccylinders, means for rotating said valve in timed relation to the cylinders, and means for varying the timing of the valve comprising a gear on saidfvalve, a gear carried by said cylindeis, intermediate gears therebetween ld-rivino' said valve at a different speed from said cylinders, movable means carrying said intermediate gears, and means for moving said intermediate gears aboutsaid cylinder and valve gears while in mesh and during rotation to change the vangular,relationship between said valve and cylinders.`

5. In a combustion engine having a controlled exhaust, a rotor including divcrging cylinders each having a gas port and combustion space at the inner end, a piston in each cylinder, means for reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation, a' rotary valve concentric with the cylinder movement for controlling the admission of gas' to the cylinders, tmeans' for driving said valve in timed relation to the cylinders, meansforvarying the timing of said valvewhile the engine is ruiming. y i

6. In ,a combustion engine having a controlled exhaust, a rotor including diverging y cylinders each having a gas port and. combusdrivin the pistons.

tion space at the inner end, a piston in each cylinder, means for reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation, valvemechanism for.4 controlling thepassage of gas to and from the cylinders, including a rotary valve concentric with the cylinder movement havatransverse passage for firing a nonad]acent .cylinder from another, andmeais for actuating said valve in timed relation to 7. A combustion engine havinga controlled exhaust and comprising at least five rotatable cylinders, a valve between said cylinders and adjacent their head ends for controlling the 4supply of'said cylinders, at least three cross firing ports spacedaround thevalve` periphery', there being a less number of cross ,firing ports than cylinders, passages through the valve connecting said ports and vmeans -ifor said valve at a diii'erent speed from said cy inders.4

8., A combustion engine comprising rotating cylinders, pistons therein,`driving connections for the pistons, a valve concentric with the cylinder movement for controlling operation ofthe cylinders, means for driving 'said valve at a different speedirom said cylinders, but -in timed relation thereto, and means including passages through said valve. vfor firing a non-ad'wlacent cylinder fromay .9. A vcombustion engine comprising ronections :tor` the pistons, a valve concentric with the cylinder movement for controlling, operation of the cylinders,jmeans for driving said valve .at a Vdiiferentspeed from said cylindcrs, but in timedmelation thereto, means including passages through said valve for firing a succeeding 'from a working cylinder, and means for adjusting the timing of said valve duriiigrotatioii.

10. In a' combustion engine, d'iverging rov-tatablecylinders each provided with a gas port and combustion space at the inner.` end,

a valve between said cylinders and concentric Y `with the cylinder'movement, pistons in said cylinders, driving connections for the pistons, means to producerelative rotation between said cylinders. and valve, a plurality of'cross firing. ports spacedl around the valve periphery, and enlargedpassages connecting said ports for firing a succeeding cylinderirom a Working cylinder. 4 j x 11. Acoinbustion enginel comprising at least five--diveiging rotatable cylinders, a vfl've between said cylinders-adjacent their head ends, at least three cross firing ports.' s1 :ced around the valve, passages through the valve connecting said ports, and means for driving said valve at'adiferent speed "from said cylinders, atleast three supply ports spaced around the valve, said Vsupply and cross firing ports being arranged adja-A cent each other. 4 12. In a Acombustion engine, a plurality of cylinders having a gas port and combustion space at the adjacent-ends, pistons4 in said cylinders, driving connections for said pistons, a combustion cha-mber between said cylinders, means to supply combustible material to said chamber,V means passing a lame of combustible material successively to nonadjacent cylinders about to be fired from said chamberand means controlling the exhaust from said cylinders.

13. In a combustion engine, a rotoi including diverging cylinders each having gas ports ,and combustion spaces at the inner ends, a

piston in each cylinder, means-for'reciprof cating the pistons during cylinder rotation, valve mechanism for controlling the passage 'of vgas to and from the cylinders, including a er rotaryyalve concentric with the cylin movement having transverse passages for firing one cylinder from another, and shaped` to fan out thecross fire flame, and' means for actuating the valve in timed relation to the pistons.

14. In a combustion engine', a rotorini cluding diverging cylinders each having gas ports and combustion -s acesatthe inner end, a piston in each cylin er, means of reciproeating' the pistons during cylinder rotation, a valve mechanism forA controlling the passage of gas toand from the cylinders, including a rotary'valve concentric with the cylinder movement having a transversepassage vfor ring a succeeding from a working cyll inder, such passage bein intermediately enlarged, and means Ifor r'ivingthe'valvein .timed relation to the pistons.

a rotaryvalve.-concentric'ivvith thecylinder i movement having atransverse passage 'fori I firing a succeeding cylinder from i' another, means for actuating said valve intimed relationto the pistons andthe valve mechanism,

15. Ina combustion engine, varotcr includ;v alve. A ing diverging cylinders, each having a gas port andl combustion space at the inner'end, a piston in each cylinder, means for reciproeating the` pistons-during cylinder rotation,

5 a valve mechanism for controlling the -pasfa' rotary valve Vconcentric With the cylinder sage of gas to and from the cylinders, includ ing a rotary valve concentric with the cylinder movement having a transverse passage therethrough walled on all sides by said valve for-firing a succeeding froin'awvorking cylinder, and enlarged to prevent' quenching the flame and further'shapedto diverge the cross fire liame, and means for driving said -valve in timed Vrelation to the pistons,

16. In a combustion engine, a rotor including `diverging cylinders each having a gas port and-combustion space at the inner end,

a piston in each cylinder, means for reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation,

inovement and having a plurality lof supply and exhaust ports arranged in pairs around thevalve periphery, av passage through the valve connected. to vsaid supply orts, a s econd passage connected to said ex austports,

and means for actuating said valve in timed relation tothe pistons.

17. A, vcombustion engine comprising a plurality of'cylinders, a valvehetween said cylinders adjacent their head ends, cross firing ports spaced around the valve periphery for iring'a succeeding from aworking cylinder, passages through the valve connecting said ports, a. pluralityof separate supply and exhaust ports` a longitudinal passage throughthe valve connected to said supply ports,` and a second Vlong litudinal passage connected to said exhaust ports.l

18.- A combustion engine comprising diverging rotatable cylinders, a valve for controlling the supply and exhaust ofthe cylinders locatedbetween said cylinders adjacent their head ends, and concentric with cylinder -movement, .cross firing ports spaced around the valve periphery for tiring a 'succeeding from a working cylinder, vpassages through said valve connectingr saidports, .means for.

driving said valve at a diierent speed from port and combustionspace at'the `inner end,

a piston in each cylinder., means for recipro- L Q01-In a combustion engine,'a rotrinclu'd-` ing diverging cylinders each having a-gas and means for varying thetiming ofi-said cating the pistons` during cylinder rotation,

'valve mechanism for controlling the passagev of gas 'to and from the cylinders', .including a rotaryfvalve concentric with the cylinder movement having a transverse passage for firing one cylinder from a preceding, means for actuating said valvein timed relation ,to `the pistons, and means. 'for varying 'the tixn ing of said valve Whileztheengine is'running a COIL-4 21. In a combustion. engine having trolled exhaust, a rotor including diver ing cylinders 'each having a gas port and com us-v tionspace at the inner-end, a piston in eachv 90. f

and for firing one cylinder from, a non-adja'.- l r cent cylinder in a diiferent pai-tof its cycle,

and means v`for varying the `timing of; saidl valve.

22. In a combustion engine havinga con? trolled exhaust, a rotor including diverging cylinders each having a gas'port and combus-` tion space at the inner end, a-piston in each cylinder, means for reciprocating the'pistns during cylinder rotation, a rotary valve con# centric with the cylinder movement for .controlling the admission ofigas to the cylinders and for firing ,one cylinder fromA another,

means for driving the valve in timed relation to the pistons, and means`for varyingthe l timing of said'valve while the engine is running.

' 23. In' a combustion engine, a roto1" 'including Vdivergiiig cylinders each havingagas port and combustion space-at the inner end,

a piston in eachh cylinder, means foi; reciproca ting the pistons during cylinderrotatiom aV partially hollow sha-ft `|valve mechanism' or v controlling'the passageof gas toand fromv :the cylinders, including ajotary valve c0n` fin theshaft having a 'firing chamber and centric iviththecylinder movement'and With andintimed relation tof said cylinders, and peripheral ports connected therewith,means -a piston in each cylinder, means for recipro.

eating the pistons during cylinder rotation, valve mechanism for contro Vling the passage of gas to and from the cylinders, including for charging saidA chamber with combustible gas, and spark ignition means in saidflring .chamben 21h-In a combustion engine, a plurality'of cylinders having a gas'port and combustion space at their adjacent ends, pistons in said cylinders, driving'connections for said pistons, a combustion chamber equi'distant beL tween said cylinders, means for' supplying I ble material successively to said cylinders -from said chamber in timed'- relation .with the pistons, and valve mechanism controlling the lcombustible material to said'chamber, and

means for passing a iianie of said combusti.-

exhaust from .said cylinders.

25. In acombu'stion engine, rotatable cylinders, a valve between .said cylinders adja- ,centi their head ,'ends, means :tor driving the valve differentially with respect to and in timed relation to said cylinders, cross firing ports spaced around the valve for firing a Succeeding from va Working cylinder, an enlarged passage'tlirougli the'valve body connectingsaid ports, and al supply passage through said valve adjacent said cross firing passages. l

26. In,a combustion engine, 4a rotor including diverging cylinders each' having a gas port and combustion space at the inner end,

a piston in each cylinder, means 'for recipro eatingl the pistons during cylinder rotation, a valve concentric'with the cylinder nievev ment for controlling admission and exhaust of gasto and from the cylinders, a longitudisupply passage leading to the valve from one direction and ,a longitudinal` exhaust passage leading from the valvein the opposite direction, and transverse cross firing passages between said longitudinal passaces for firing a succeedingfrom a working cylinder.

27. In a combustion engine, a rotor-ineluding a unitary casting having divergin'nr cylin# ders each having a gas port andcomiustion provide a cooling jacket around each cylinder,'a' shaft on which said casting isxed for rotation, ports in said shaft leading to each cylinder,.ad ditional shaft ports leadingI to said jackets, afvalve within said shaft controlling said cylinder ports, cooling passages inside said shaft, means for driving said valve in timed relation to said cylinders,'and means for supplying and removing cooling fluid for said cooling passages and jackets.- 28. In a combustion engine, a rotor including a unitary casting having divergin@ cylin- I. ders each having a gas port andcomIiiistion space at the inner end, and being cored to provide a cooling jacket aroundeach cylin* der, a shaft on which said casting is fixed-'for rotation, ports in said shaft leading to each cylinder and additional shaft ports leadingv to said jackets, meanscontrolling the sup'- ply and removal of cooling iluid for said jackets, and means controlling the supply and exhaust of said cylinders.

29. In a combustion engine, a rotor including a plurality of diverging cylinders' each having a gas port and combustion space at the inner end, a piston in .each cylinder, means ,for reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation, a valve concentric with the cylindei` movement for controlling admission I and. eithaust of'igas to and from the cylinders, i .a longitudinal supply passage leadinglto the valve from one direction anda longitudinal exhaust passage leading from the valve in the oppositedirection, transverse cross iiring -4 passagesv between said longitudinal passages,

an electric ignition means in said cross firing passages, and an'electrical conductor leading through one of said longitudinal passages to said ignition means.' Y

30. In a combustion engine, a rotor including a plurality of diverging. cylinders each having a gas port and combustion space at the inner end, a piston inv 'cach cylinder, means for reciprocating the pistons during cylinder rotation, a rotary valve concentric with the cylinder movement -for controlling tlieadmission of gas to the cylinders, means for driving said valve in timed relation to the cylinders, means for varying Vthe timing of said valve, a .tube between said valve and its driving meansl and provided 'with an interior recess, a hole leading from said recess to the periphery of said tube, and a helical -groove thereon leading from said hele to the outer surface of said valve. for lubricating the-same, and means controlling the exhaust from the cylinders.l

.31. In acombustion engine, a plurality of cylinders provided With'a gas port and combustion space at the inner end of euch cylinder, a valve between said cylinders and concentric with cylinder movement for control ling tliesupply and exhaust of the cylinders,

for' the pistons, means to produce relativ.n

rotation between saidcylinders and valve, a

the cylinders, supply and exhaust. passages through said valve connecting said ports7 at least as manycross firing ports as supply ports onsaid valve, and means for actuating- -the valve in timed relation to the pistons.

. 33. In acombustion engine, a rotor including diverging cylinders each having a fps port and combustion space at an inner end, a piston in each cylinder, means for reciprocati-ng the pistons during cylinder rotation.

a rotary valve concentric with the cylinder movement having aI plurality of separate supply a'nd exhaust ports each less in number than the cylinders, supply and exhaust pas'- sages through said v alve connecting said supply portsv on saidvalve, there being a sup-' ply port, exhaust port, cross firing port, supply port, etc'., aroundthe valve, arranged successi'vely -around the ,valveperipliery in the l flame. A 35.l Ina combustion engine, a rotor includ` ertsI at least asinan cross .firino Orts as 7 D direction olf-rotation of the Valve, and means the'pistons. L

34. Iii afcomhustioii engine, rotatable cylinders, a' valve concentric with tliecylinder movement, ports 'on said valve to fire a sucneeding from avvorking cylinder, an enlarged n "passage through said valve connecting saidV ports, entirely walled in by said valve, and shaped to prevent quenching the cross' fire n ingpylinders, a piston in each cylinder, means for reiprocating'tlie pistons, a partially hollow shaft, a rotary valve Within said shaft between said cylinders having therein sepa- A rate supply and exhaust passages, means for rotating the valve'in timed relation to the .vlinder-s; and means for adjustingtlie 'tiniing of the valvednring its rotation. 36, In a combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders, a piston in ea'h cylinder, means. for reciprocatingthe pistons, means inc1ud ing a passage having a restricted portion and .-eXtenc ing between' non-adjacentfcylinders for gradually. bending a cross-fire flame bef tween a firing anda succeeding cylinder, the

of aine transfer. i

37. In a combustion engine, cylinders, a piston in each-cylinder, nieans lfor reciprocating the pistons, a partially holsaid passage being substantially continuously i lreate'd,.and means for. adjusting the' timingv f l Ae5 aplurality of low, ported, rotating shaft, a rotary valve within said shaft having thereins'u'pply and Aexhaust poit's', and ineansor driving the4 valve in timeldrelationto the pistons.

Signed at New Bloomfield,-rin' the county of Perry and State of Pennsylvania.

WILLIAM HARPER; JR. 

